Circumstances

A motion of censure may be tabled either on behalf of a political party or by the signature of at least 20 deputies (Article 99 of the Constitution) and may concern the entire Government or an individual minister.

Modalites

A motion of censure is circulated in printed form to the members within three days of its being tabled. Inclusion of a motion of censure on the agenda is debated within ten days of its circulation. In this debate, only one of the signatories to the motion, one deputy from each political party, and the Prime Minister or one minister on behalf of the Council of Ministers, may take the floor. Together with the decision to include the motion of censure on the agenda, the date for debating it will also be decided. However, the debate may not take place less than two days after the decision to place it on the agenda and may not be deferred for more than seven days. In the course of that debate, a motion of no confidence with a statement of reasons tabled by deputies or parties, or the request for a vote of confidence by the Council of Ministers, may be put to the vote only after a full day has elapsed. In order to unseat the Council of Ministers or a minister, an absolute majority of the total number of members is required in the voting, in which only the votes of no confidence are counted.

Consequences

If a motion of censure is adopted against the Council of Ministers, the entire Government resigns, whereas if an individual minister is concerned, only the latter resigns from office. A number of motions of censure were initiated between 1990 and 2000. While most of them were not put on the agenda, five were ultimately tabled in the parliament.